Ward 5 School Committee member Bill Carpenter said: "At a time when members of the community are questioning the diversity of the staff at the Brockton public schools, it''s a concern that a [black] individual apparently was passed over for an important promotion in violation of the union contract. I don''t understand why it took three months and a grievance to finally rectify the situation. It is very troubling to me, and I have expressed my concerns to the superintendent."

Many feel that the union ideal of promoting employees based on seniority is unfair to those who perform their jobs at higher levels and prove their worth by earning a job advancement, the story noted.

The incident has grown legs, so to speak, as negotiations between school officials have heated up about making the Brockton High School teaching staff, which is made up of only 12 percent minorities, more diverse, the story added.